263



tooth on each side, which the upper one fits into. However,

when transferred to a “ changara,” a kind of basket with open

meshes, it quickly became resigned to captivity, and fed

readily on almost anything that was offered to it. It was

surprising how soon it came to know those who were in the

habit of feeding it ; and whenever I entered the hut, it always

expected me to give it some dainty. Its staple diet was boiled

potatoes, which was about all we could get there ; but at times

I gave it various kinds of berries ; some it would eat readily,

but others it rejected altogether. Insects of all kinds it de-

devoured greedily, especially cockroaches, and it was its passion

for these that caused it to become tame so quickly. It was a

silent bird, and I cannot remember that I heard it utter any sort

of sound while I had it ; but, unfortunately, its quarters were so

confined that it had no chance of showing itself off to advantage,

or to exhibit any talents it might have possessed. I was obliged

to leave it at Gualea while we went further down into the forests,

and on my return a few weeks later, I was told it had escaped.

I had looked forward so much to getting it back to Quito, where

I could have given it better accommodation, and had more

opportunities of finding out its good or bad qualities. These

birds are confined solety to Ecuador, and are found only on the

Pacific side. They are very striking looking birds, and attract

special attention even among such a varied collection of beautiful

birds as we made. Its total length is eight-and-a-half inches,

and in shape is rather a bulk}’ - and thick-set bird. To describe

it minutely is rather difficult, but I will try to give a general

impression of it. To begin with, the top of the head is glossy

black, which colour narrows towards the nape, where the feathers

are an inch long and lie in a point on the back. They have

such a gloss on them that they quite glitter, and the black

extends in a narrow shining collar half way round the neck.

From just above the base of the eye is a patch of white, which

reaches back to the collar. At times my bird rather spread or

puffed these feathers out, but I never saw it raise the long

feathers on the neck, which really look like a long crest coming

from the top of the head. The sides of the head, throat, and

fore part of the breast are a fine mauvish-grey, and a broad band

of shining blood-red crosses the centre of the breast, and in very

adult specimens continues right down the centre to the vent.

The flanks and lower parts of the breast are orange mixed with

green, and the vent is greenish-grey. The back is an exceedingly

rich shade of golden-brown, rather greenish in some lights, and

the rump is chrome-yellow. The tail is slaty-blue, and the



